Approve the Child Health Disability and Prevention - Health Care Program for Children in Foster Care (CHDP-HCPCFC) Plan for 2023-2024. (No general fund impact) (Sullivan)

The System of Care Division (SCD) of the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is responsible for the administration and oversight of programs that focus on fragile children and adults with special health care needs including Children’s Medical Services (CMS) Programs comprised of the California Children’s Services (CCS) and Child Health Disability and Prevention (CHDP) Programs. The CHDP Program includes the Health Care Program for Children in Foster Care (HCPCFC). For the Fiscal Year 23-24, the DHCS requested County’s local CHDP and HCPCFC submit the Annual Plan separately from the CCS program. The CHDP and HCPCFC programs will submit to the DHCS an Annual Plan that includes local CHDP and HCPCFC program budgets and staffing documents. Submission of the CHDP and HCPCFC Annual Plan is contingent on the release by DHCS of the program allocations and Plan and Fiscal Guidelines. For FY 23-24, this was provided by the DHCS on July 10, 2023.

The CHDP Program provides complete health assessments for the early detection and prevention of disease and disabilities in children and youth. The population eligible for CHDP services includes all Medi-Cal eligible children/youth under age 21 and low-income, non-Medi-Cal eligible children/youth under age 19 with family income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. The CHDP Program estimates there are 45,759 Yolo County children eligible for CHDP services. The CHDP program is responsible for resource and provider development to ensure that high-quality services are delivered to eligible children/youth. In addition, the program informs the target populations to increase their participation and community agencies and residents to increase the knowledge and acceptance of preventive services.

The SCD announced in the CHDP Program Letter and Provider Notices 22-02 and 22-06 that the CHDP program will be discontinued effective July 1, 2024. The Yolo County CHDP staff will follow the SCD’s transition plan for closing the program. The HCPCFC program will continue as a stand-alone program.

The Health Care Program for Children in Foster Care (HCPCFC) provides health care oversight of the physical, behavioral, dental, and developmental needs of all Yolo County children in foster care/out-of-home placement. The caseload for HCPCFC in Fiscal Year 2022-23 was 393 children. The Public Health Nurse works with social workers or probation officers to ensure that children in out-of-home placement receive all needed health care services. 

Board approval is needed so that CMS can continue providing effective and efficient comprehensive systems for vulnerable populations to improve their health care options and reduce health care costs. Only the Board of Supervisors can enter the County into a binding contract with the State. Therefore, the Chairman’s signature is required for the plan’s submission.

The Yolo County CHDP program collaborates and coordinates with Partnership Health Care (PHC) to provide access to preventive healthcare via medical home for Medi-Cal eligible children. Yolo County CHDP works closely with Yolo County HHSA to assist families enrolled in Medi-Cal in obtaining health and dental assessment for their children. In addition, CHDP has Interagency Agreements with Yolo County Children’s Alliance and the Yolo County Head Start Program to coordinate outreach to families that may qualify for services. The HCPCFC Program works closely with Yolo County Child Welfare Services and Probation to ensure children in out-of-home placement have access to needed health care services.